"And then--I wished to take a kiss from the young girl; but, at the very moment I drew nigh, the old dead woman took her daughter's place, so I only met with a cold and icy face, and at the same moment two long arms stretched out to seize upon me. Oh! it was then I gave such a cry--and I fled! fled! fled! but the old woman pursued me--yes, the corpse tracked me behind; and she has only just now disappeared, on hearing the sound of your voice. I then hid behind this tree, where you now see me, in a piteous plight." The fright of the Tagal and his mistake made me almost laugh out; but I severely reprimanded him for the bad intention he had of abusing the hospitality that had been so graciously afforded us: he repented, and begged of me to excuse him. He was, I should think, sufficiently punished by his fright. I wished to take him back to the cabin with me; but for no consideration would he return. I therefore left my gun in his charge, and went back to the house of mourning, where I found the poor young girl just as frightened as he was. I soon made her acquainted with the adventure; so thanking her for her kind hospitality, and morning coming on, I returned to Alila, who was most impatiently expecting me. The hope of seeing soon again our relations, our homes, our friends, gave us new courage, and before sunset we arrived at an Indian village, without anything remarkable having taken place: this was to be our last stage. [13] After this long and interesting journey I arrived at Quingua, a village in the province of Boulacan, where I had left my friend in convalescence. CHAPTER VII. I return to Jala-Jala--An Excursion on the Lake--Relempago's Narrative--Re-organisation of my Government--A Letter from my Brother Henry--His Arrival--He joins me in the Management of my Plantations--Cajoui, the Bandit: Anten-Anten--Indian Superstition--A Combat with the Bandit--His Death--A Piratical Descent--My Lieutenant is Wounded--I extract the Ball, and cure him. My prolonged absence from home caused great uneasiness. Very fortunately my wife remained at Manilla, and was totally ignorant of the journey I had recently undertaken. My patient had not exactly followed the prescribed regimen, so that his distemper had increased, and he was impatiently expecting to return and die, he said, in his house: his wishes were complied with. A few days after my arrival we set out and arrived the next day at Manilla, where my poor friend rendered his last sigh in the middle of his family. This event damped, of course, the pleasure I should have enjoyed in beholding my wife once more. A few days after the demise of our friend we embarked, and set sail for Jala-Jala.